iO Practiceware (Eye Care Leaders) Software

The team at iO Practiceware developed their product to maximize workflow in an ophthalmology setting. This solution combines advanced features like a touch-screen interface and auto-coding with ophthalmology specific EHR software, image and practice management systems.

iO Practiceware’s touch screen format eliminates drop down menus and utilizes big-button design, saving time recording notes in the exam room. Their EHR also automates coding, clinical follow-ups and referral letters. They have a user-friendly and intuitive interface that is highly customizable to display the most critical information on clinical screens. The “Highlights” screen provides convenient access to important events and diagnosis spanning a patient's history. We really like that the EHR integrates with test equipment and records results at the click of a button.

The iO Practiceware scheduling tool works across multiple locations, can automatically confirm follow ups, and allows for patients to make their own appointments online. Their scheduling grid gives physicians the ability to enter and save important instructions directly from the exam room to be reiterated at check out.

Beginning with two weeks of onsite training, iO Practiceware also offers technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week. It is available in web-based or on-premise deployment, so you can decide which will best fit the needs of your practice. Those in the market for an EHR and practice management solution specific to an ophthalmology practice, iO Practiceware should be included in your shortlist of products to review.

Very Cumbersome and NonIntuitive Ophthalmology Software

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

There are many documentation options, but extremely cumbersome. Pretty good scheduling software.

Likes Least

Very cumbersome interface. It has drawing capabilities, but it is very difficult to use. Trying to describe medical details is difficult to document and then find on subsequent exams. Routine exams aren't too difficult, but anything out of the ordinary and simple is very difficult to document and find again of subsequent exams. As each physician finds different ways to place data within the exam, other examiners will have difficulty finding these details. Doing a follow up exam on a emergent patient can be very hard to determine what their status was yesterday. Patients who were software engineers could not believe how many steps it took to document a medical visit.

Recommendations

See the software in action for the electronic medical records before purchase. Unfortunately, our group purchased this software after visiting an office who was scanning in paper charting and not utilizing the emr.

Gary from Hirshfield Eye Associates
Specialty: Ophthalmology

February 2015

February 2015

Poor product, poor vendor, poor experience

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

The only thing I like is the product's speed.

Likes Least

The support, attitude, and quality of the vendor are all inadequate, as is the quality of the product.

Recommendations

This software was the worst decision I made in my practice. From day one, I knew I made a mistake, but because of sunk cost, I stayed with it, and for five years, I got more entrenched until I finally developed the courage to dump it. First of all, let's dispense with the practice management component. It is crude at best, with very limited reporting capacity, and that in and of itself should be a deal-breaker. However, I will address the EHR component mainly. This company likes to brag about the speed of the touchscreen system. Yes, it is fast, but it comes at great expense. Before getting into the functionality, I can say that the software feels and acts very antiquated; the company itself admits that it requires a multimillion dollar rewrite. While we had all the hardware and network required and up-to-date, it broke down constantly, and we were on the phone with either the IT company or iO support on a daily basis. They were not always helpful, seemed frustrated and were frustrating. My staff really disliked this company and their support. Furthermore, the management took no responsibility for the flaws and issues and were arrogant. Yet, because we needed them in order to function, we were really helpless. After the sunk cost, we felt we had to make it work.

The whole history - including HPI, PMH, ROS, etc. - is very poorly structured making it very difficult to get the appropriate components in that are required for E and M coding. However, since in most practices, the technicians do this, the doctors tend to ignore this; however, for compliance purposes, it is very important. The speed comes at a cost of accuracy. It is nearly impossible to document things that you don’t see very regularly. There are too many clicks and no good opportunities to bypass and type in order to just get done. The software makes you pick the diagnosis before you can enter the findings in many cases, which is not how we think. It is clunky and very very unpleasant to use.

In five years, we saw no improvement in the clinical software except to the refraction screen, but nothing else of substance. They seemed so overwhelmed with PQRS, Meaningful Use, and other compliance issues that improving the software was not happening at all. Worse than that the company was barely able to offer support and management, it was also arrogant and unresponsive. They seemed to know that they had you and that was it. But it gets worse. I switched to another company after more than five years at great difficulty, and I am so happy I did. However, iO refuses to deliver a viewable archive of my charts and documents so I can see the record without continuing to use the software. I hired a company to do this, and because of very primitive and unexplainable coding, they have not been able to do it, and we have received very little help from the company. They have been very clear that their interest is in current and future clients and not those that left. However, they insist that I continue to pay support for as long as I want to view my own charts. So now, I am paying monthly just to use the software as an archive. I cannot stop paying because if there is a breakdown, I can lose access to five years of records.

Nalin from The Colorado Retina Center
Specialty: Ophthalmology

January 2015

January 2015

iO Practiceware: why I love the system overall

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

First of all, I must preface my comments by the fact that I am a solo practitioner, Retina practice only, seeing roughly 30 to 40 patient encounters a day. In an attempt to be objective about the various offer, I separate software itself from connectivity issues, as well as the overall frustrations with the need for EMR, PQRS, and MU governmental regulations, which already cast negative cloud over the entire EMR implementation process. What enticed me about this product was the touchscreen interface, in addition to endorsement by a large retina group we know. We also decided to go for a cloud-based EMR rather than in-office servers. Most importantly, we prepared for implementation for three months prior to the same, per the recommendations of iO. I believe that if your implementation is rushed with any EMR system, there will be issues that will be difficult to resolve instantaneously. Having said this, from the time of implementation, it took us only several weeks before I was up to my regular patient load without a scribe! After synchronizing our billing department and its processes with iO, billing has been more efficient than pre-EMR; payments have been faster as well. Of note, we implemented in September 2014 before the last-minute rush; we had started preparing from July 2014 for implementation. Although we started with templates from another practice, which were quite comprehensive, I've been able to tailor the templates myself over the last several months, which makes patient assessment/plan summaries more efficient.

Likes Least

There are a good number of steps needed from seeing the patients to check out. If I look at this objectively, however, most of these have to do with PQRS/PQR I and MU requirements. I'm able to make this more efficient by rearranging the button/templates, which can be done quite easily. Initially, support had been sparse. Recently, I am able to speak with an individual, as is my office staff, in a reasonably efficient manner.
There have been issues with dropped connectivity on occasion. We are troubleshooting the same with iO; however, we are cloud-based, and I am here in the Midwest. This does not appear to be as much of issue with the software, as it is with cloud-based connectivity; nevertheless, I would choose cloud-based over server-based in an office any time, as updates are done overnight. The company is constantly updating their software. The company does respond to requests regarding software updates/modifications, and the speed of this is improving.

Recommendations

Prior to implementation, the practice needs to stick to the timetable supplied by iO, if not somewhat ahead of schedule. Start preparing three months prior to implementation week. That way, you'll hit the ground running. I feel cloud-based is the way to go. Choose the fastest computers recommended, and don't skimp on Internet connectivity. This makes the touchscreen interface quick and efficient. Use what they term the Remote APP, a quicker connection. Ask for the top-trained persons during your implementation so that you get the most out of them. Most importantly, ask questions during the implementation, as it is much easier/quicker to address and have iO modify your system on-site than after the implementation team has left; maintain contact with the implementation team members afterwords, which has helped us. Finally, don't let frustrations over the necessity to implement EMR and meet MU and PQRS/PQRI metrics cloud your view of this system.

Keith from OPS
Specialty: Ophthalmology

January 2015

January 2015

iO Practice Review

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

The software is mediocre, and we have daily issues with it.

Likes Least

The software is garbage and is constantly crashing and losing data. It is not user-friendly.

Recommendations

I recommend looking at other software. This software causes us more headaches and downtime.

Mark from OPS
Specialty: Ophthalmology

January 2015

January 2015

Wish our practice had never heard of iO

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

When it works free of bugs, it saves time vs paper charting.

Likes Least

It has software bugs, an ongoing massive slowdown in payment processing, new problems arising from attempted software patches, data dropping from input screens that require techs to recheck vision or pressure, and inconvenient software update times during patient hours. We have a lack of trust in timeframes given by the company for problem resolution and a lack of trust in the company in general.

Practice Administrator

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

The clinical aspect of the ophthalmology-specific software was good to very good, and the product also incorporates patient scheduling and some billing functionality.

Likes Least

The company has not invested into the much-needed technological achieve updates to keep it functional with software updates. Every time they perform an update, whether it's designed to address Meaningful Use or fix a known problem, the software's performance suffers in the most negative and impacting ways. The company has not hired enough support personnel nor have they trained their staff to focus on customer service. We've experienced long hold periods and a frequent lack of followup on open tickets. They point fingers at hardware and other support vendor companies.

Recommendations

iO is not a prime-time company that is poised to support upcoming ICD-10 and MU updates. A recent announcement that they were sold to another company leaves an even larger cloud over how long it may take for any significant software performance updates to arrive. How they were able to actually sell the company is a bit confusing, as this product and their inability to update the software to a performance that optimizes any practice is a considered risk anyone jumping into an EHR system would have to be aware of.

Wendy from OPS
Specialty: Ophthalmology

January 2015

January 2015

This software is not user-friendly; too many steps for everything

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

There's nothing I like.

Likes Least

This software is not user-friendly for the front desk at all. You have to go to many steps to get what you need; it is way too slow.

Recommendations

I would find out if the person who made the software ever worked at the front desk of a busy office.

Dissatisfied

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

There's nothing I like about iO Practiceware.

Likes Least

This vendor has a poor track record with us as to timely responses. The software updates are very poorly rolled out. There is no communication about what they are taking away and what they are adding. There are many mistakes, and when we ask when items will be fixed, they tell us these issues will not be addressed for months.

Recommendations

Ask present users. I hear that we are not the only ones dissatisfied.

Carrie from NEA
Specialty: Ophthalmology

January 2015

January 2015

Horrible System

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

The one thing that I like is that I can access medical records from anywhere. However, that is true for any EHR system, so it is not a plus for iO, specifically.

Likes Least

Their customer support is terrible. They do not answer their phones; when there is a problem, they create a ticket, it goes unsolved for months, if it ever gets solved. They once opened a ticket when I called to check on the status of an existing ticket. The system is super slow, and the reports are useless if you need any kind of customization (or if you are trying to track referrals). You can't even do something as simple as print a patient address label. This system has been one long headache after another.

Recommendations

Run as fast as you can away from this company.

Kerry from Arizona Eye Specialists
Specialty: Ophthalmology

August 2014

August 2014

EHR Follow-up

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

The ease of use and the follow-up and communication with the company have made this product very worthwhile.

Likes Least

At this point, we do not have anything to report. We're still too new and working through the bugs.

Recommendations

Really spend the needed time to learn the product and company! Once you do, you will be very happy!

Clifford from Andover Eye associates
Specialty: Ophthalmology

August 2014

August 2014

Very Poor Software

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

There's nothing I like. It is by far the worst EHR I have used. It is extremely poorly designed.

Likes Least

They show a lack of responsiveness to physician requests for improvements.

Recommendations

Consider alternatives to this software. If you are considering this software, insist on very extensive demonstrations prior to purchasing it. Make sure your front desk staff also has very extensive exposure/demonstrations before deciding on it.

Kelly from Eyecare Associates of New Orleans
Specialty: Ophthalmology

June 2014

June 2014

iO Admin Section

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

Likes Best

What I like best about this product is that it is easy to use and the vendor is very helpful.

Likes Least

What I like least about this product is that it is really slow at times, and the vendor leaves you on hold for a long time to answer questions.

Recommendations

If you do not have a problem with speed, then this software is for you. Otherwise, if you do, then it is still a great product, but it could use a speed tweak.

K. Ray from East Texas Eye Center

October 2013

October 2013

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

We've had iO Practiceware for eight weeks, and it really surprised me how efficient the software is at maintaining patient flow. I had put off converting to an EHR for several years because I thought it would affect the number of patients seen per day. However, I started with a normal patient flow the first day and was able to maintain my pre-EHR patient flow throughout the training period!

They provide trainers for the first ten days that are very helpful during the learning curve. The telephone support is generally very helpful, also.

Alan from Eye Physicians & Surgeons

October 2013

October 2013

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

I have grown up with this EMR, having used it since 2006. While it is not perfect (no EMR is), it works and has helped patient flow rather than hurt it. When one office lost internet for a month after Sandy, and I couldn't fully use the system in that office, I sorely missed the EMR functionality. I have continued to compare it to other systems out there and have been pleased with my choice. I have had some issues, but with a little patience, we have been able to work them out. We have also achieved meaningful use reimbursement.

Theodore from Theodore F Pearlman Md Pa

October 2013

October 2013

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

I believe most physicians, like myself, don't particularly care for the way we are forced to change to EMRs. Having said that, I feel the pain is minimized by iO Practiceware. The fact that they have live, in-person trainers is important. The touch screen interface, in my opinion, is easier than drop down menus, and the rest you learn to live with.

Duncan from Duncan A. Friedman, MD

October 2013

October 2013

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

I walked into a practice that already had iO Practiceware implemented, having come from a practice that was not using EHR. Seeing iO in use while applying for this job was one of the main reasons I joined my current practice. The ease of use and data input make it fast and efficient. While one patient is being worked up, I can preview their file and see who else is waiting to be seen. It really helps me keep track of my day.

Their tech support team was very responsive. I recently wanted to implement a button that generated an H&P for all of my upcoming surgeries. One of their technicians has personally kept up with my request and seen it through. Needless to say, I can easily prepare my pre-op notes with a push of a button at this point.

Another benefit compared to paper charts is one that we would rarely have had the benefit of at my old practice. If a call comes in at night about a patient, I can pull up any record from home with no trouble and find out all the details I need. Technicians aren't running around the office constantly looking for someone's misplaced chart. If a chart goes to a satellite clinic, I don't have to wait an hour for someone to drive it back to our main clinic. Needless to say, there are a lot of naysayers about EHRs, but with iO, I find that the interface and data availability is extremely user friendly and easy to work with.

Admittedly, this review comes from someone that is fresh out of fellowship, but if you are looking to pick a good EHR to work with, I found learning the process extremely easy with iO.

Thomas from Braverman-Terry-Oei Eye Associates

October 2013

October 2013

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

We are a multi-specialty group that had been using iO Practiceware for almost three years. I was initially apprehensive, mainly because of stories I had heard of much decreased productivity after adopting EMRs. I have been thrilled to find that the opposite is true. In fact, by the third day after implementation, I was able to see a full load of patients with only a thirty minute lag.

However, I do believe this success is entirely system-dependent. I ran into a physician that had used iO Practiceware in our office and then moved out of state to a practice that used another EMR (one which claims to have the highest number of installations in ophthalmology). He was extremely frustrated because after six months, it was still taking him twice as long to enter patient data. The drop down menus he was using in his EMR were very cumbersome. iO Practiceware, on the other hand, uses a touchscreen system which is lightning quick and simple to use.

At this point, I feel it would be most instructive to list the attributes of iO Practiceware that make it so efficient to use:

1. The system is well thought-out and organized. There is an alert button which allows important "notes to self" to be placed on a separate screen. For example, I use a treat and extend protocol on exudative macular degeneration patients. I have a note in this section indicating the current treatment interval for a given patient. This alert screen can be accessed with a push of a button from any other screen. This precludes the need to flip back to previous visits to find a note indicating a patient's treatment interval.

2. There is a highlights screen which is very well organized. It lists the previous procedures and surgeries done on a patient. The previous retinal drawing is also shown. From this screen, a chronological list of previous visions and pressures can be accessed by touching the current vision or pressure on that screen. The font size used on this screen is very large so that information can be seen at a glance from even 5 feet away.

3. A separate interpretation and report for testing such as OCT or FA can be accessed at any time. Also op notes for lasers can be accessed at any time.

4. Referral letters are easy to generate and an updated list of physician phone numbers are in the system. The letters are sent by a simple push of a button.

5. The system is easily customizable. A computer savvy person can add treatment templates in a matter of minutes without having to hire an expensive programmer.

6. The monthly maintenance agreement cost was very reasonable when compared to other systems we looked at.

7. Service is very personalized in that we are usually able to work with the same person on an ongoing basis.

8. Information is stored on an on-site server rather than in the cloud. This has many advantages in terms of speed of information access. There is virtually no lag when images are retrieved.

9. Documentation of patient information is extremely thorough. All bases are covered. In fact, a practice consultant that does practice self-audits remarked that this was the best system she had encountered so far in terms of documentation.

In summary we have been very happy with iO Practiceware. It has increased my efficiency by 10 to 15 percent over paper charts. Also, documentation is a hundred percent better than patient charts.

Alice from Eyecare Associates

July 2013

July 2013

Ease-of-use

Functionality

Product Quality

Customer Support

With any EHR system there are glitches along the way. The responsive customer service by iOPW staff makes the process less frustrating. Even when something cannot be corrected immediately, you know why, what and when.

We have been very happy with iO Practiceware

Ease-of-use

Product Quality

Customer Support

Ease-of-use

Usability

Product Quality

Quality

Support

We are a multi-specialty group that had been using iO Practiceware for almost 3 years. I was initially apprehensive, mainly because of stories I had heard of decreased productivity after adopting EMRs. I have been thrilled to find that the opposite is true.

I do believe this success is entirely system-dependent. I ran into a physician that had used iO Practiceware in our office & then moved out of state to a practice that used another EMR (one which claims to have the highest number of installations in ophthalmology). He was extremely frustrated because after six months, it was still taking him twice as long to enter patient data. The drop down menus in his EMR were very cumbersome. iO Practiceware uses a touchscreen system which is lightning quick & simple to use.

I feel it would be most instructive to list the attributes of iO Practiceware that make it so efficient to use:

-The system is well thought-out & organized. There is an alert button which allows important "notes to self" to be placed on a separate screen. For example, I use a treat & extend protocol on exudative macular degeneration patients. I have a note in this section indicating the current treatment interval for a given patient. This alert screen can be accessed with a push of a button from any other screen.

-The highlights screen is very well organized. It lists the patient's previous procedures & surgeries. The previous retinal drawing is also shown. From this screen, a chronological list of previous visions & pressures can be accessed by touching the current vision or pressure on that screen. The font size is very large so that information can be seen at a glance from even 5 feet away.

-A separate interpretation & report for testing such as OCT or FA & op notes for lasers can be accessed at any time.

-Referral letters are easy to generate. They are sent by a simple push of a button.

-The system is easily customizable. A computer savvy person can add treatment templates in a matter of minutes.

-The monthly maintenance cost is very reasonable compared to other systems.

-Service is very personalized. We are usually able to work with the same person on an ongoing basis.

-Documentation of patient information is extremely thorough. In fact, a practice consultant who does practice audits remarked that this was the best system she had encountered so far in terms of documentation.

Review Source: Capterra

In just fifteen minutes, the experts at Software Advice can help you narrow down the right software for your organization. Call us for a Free FastStart Consultation: (844) 387-3581